What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1832, 16 November 1874, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude o:i counsellors there is safety." —OEd Proverb. Some people having boasted of the enormous amount of money they spent "at the bazaar," everybody was surprised to find that only a paltry five hundred pounds had been realised from the sale. A person curious in these matters thought there must be something wrong. Nearly fifty pounds had been taken as admission money, which represents two ; thousand sixpences. Of course some of these two thousand were there every night or day the bazaar was open, and religiously paid their entrance fee. On an average, too, they would spend a shilling a piece at every visit throughout the four days, which, with fifty pounds entrance, would give one hundred and fifty pounds. Whence comes the other three fifty? Well, there are those who talk of having spent five and ten pounds a piece " and got nothing for it; " then, of course, the lucky individuals who carried away all the handsome prizes must have spent money; so between these and the ftee and ten pounders, and the hundred and fifty pounds before referred to, the sum realised ought to have, been much larger. The individual who attempted the calculation, v.ith a view to arriving at an approximation of money spent by the visitors, has come to the conclusion that nine out of ten of those who talk of having sp?nt two or three pounds anight, or five to ten pounds during the four nights are drawing the longbow. Figures are bound to come out right when pi*opcrly handled.

The sequel to the bazaar e>howed»unmistakcably that in this as in every community there are persons who like amusement on the cheap. Onb of compliment to the lady stall keepers and their assistants— some of whom had been really very hard worked, while there were others who merely hung on to the skirts of friends— a bit of a hop was extemporised. As a ball without men would be considered by most ladies a tame affiair, the youthful bachelors of the Thames were invited to grace the assembly with their presence ; when they all (or nearly) with one consent began to make excuses. The cause leaked out: a condition of their presence was the payment of half a crown. An indignation meeting was held, and (will ifc be believed ?) they stayed away. The consequence was, as pretty an array of wall flowers as ever wasted their sweetness on the desert air of a ball room If anybody says the gentlemen of the Thames don't like cheap amusement after this they will lay themselves open to flat contradiction. To " do" the bazaar on sixpennyworth of coppers was a good thing. It displayed a powe? of resisting importunity which the unjust judge might have prided himself on; but what shall be said of the gallantry which was not displayed because it involved the outlay of half a crown. Ye disappointed matrons ! send such callants to Coventry for a year. Don't get up any more bazaars for them until they show that they liko many others acted on " principle: " this they can demonstrate by getting up a first rate bachelors' ball.

It is nothing new to hear charge! brought against Borough Councillors and such like people in authority that they take good care of the roads and footpaths in their own locality, therefore the Borough Councillors need not be surprised to find that they are not altogether beyond the suspicion of such weakness. It is said that a certain locality in which two Councillors reside is being carefully kept—even free from weeds at an expense of some forty pounds a ioi'fcnighfc, whilo other localities not being blessed with the palatial residences of Councillors are entirely uncared for. Not only that, but whenever residents in the latter unfavored portion of the Borough ask for a trifling expenditure they are immediately met with the question " how much will you subscribe?" Councillors even go further : they add insult to injury, and tell the unfortunates—who feel themselves aggrieved because their property is being slowly but surely carried out.to sea — that they shouldn't have built so near the sea. They can see that without being told, but it's none the less annoying to men who some years ago had "two or three chains of dry land between their houses and the sea to watch the encroachments of the tide with the certain knowledge that although they must pay rates the money will be spent in improving other people's property while their own is suffering. Everybody, ought to see this in the same light—that is, a proper light, because what is the grievance of one locality now may be the lot of others at some time or another.

The'gentleman who furnishes items of commercial intelligence to the papers in hebdomadary instalments has palmed off what must be considered as a small joke in the morning paper to-day. He says, in addition to what may be termed purely commercial news—that he has knocked down a small property at an unremunerative rate. Read in .connection with an incident which was duly commented on at the corner during the week, it is evident a joke is intended; but the sequel (to come) will show whether it was so very unremunerative to the piece of property knocked down or the knock'em-dowr. •...■•

The Waiotahi Board are said to be a rapacious lot. It may be a calumny, but ©ne. thing is certain, tbey'are not above asking when they want anything; and .it is equally certain that they get a great deal, if not all they ask.. The latest is the grant for treo planting. The Borough Council should take a hint, and ask, that they may receive. Why don't they go in for tree planting. If they would pant a line of willows or some other trees along the Shortland beach the work would save them a lot or money and grumbling from the ratepayers. They do say that

willows are good for binding : perhaps the tide would respect trees'planted by the Council, and the people who live near would certainly have awakened within them that feeling which is said to be a lireiy sense of favors to come.

("The above was crowded out of Saturday's issue.]